November 25, 2006

By Amiram Barkat

An American Jewish organization has announced NIS 11 million in aid for Sderot and the communities near the Gaza Strip. The United Jewish Communities management decided to redirect the funds from a special $350 million collection for residents of the North during the second Lebanon war. UJC Israel senior vice president, Nachman Shai, said yesterday "the North American Jewish community fears for the city of Sderot and the region's residents and is acting to help quickly on a large scale."

The aid will be transferred through the Jewish Agency and the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee in Israel and is slated to finance short getaways for the elderly and disabled and children's and youth after-school activities through the end of the academic year. In addition, the UJC will offer NIS 3 million in scholarships to Sapir College. UJC financed NIS 10 million to support trauma victims in the past year.